Convertible desk and secretarial return

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a desk having a pedestal unit slidably mounted therebeneath so that it may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the desk from one end to the other and a secretarial return situated perpendicular to one end of the desk. The secretarial return has a pedestal unit slidably mounted therebeneath so that it can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the secretarial return from one end to the other. The pedestals on both the desk and the secretarial return are moved to the ends thereof which are remote from the end at which the secretarial return is perpendicular to one end of the desk.

[ 1 Nov. 18, 1975 [5 CONVERTIBLE DESK AND SECRETARIAL RETURN [75] Inventor: Jose Lopez, Miami, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Camilo Muebies, Inc., Coral Gables,

Fla.

22 Filed: Ju1y5, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 486,173

3/1964 Abrahamson 312/195 l/1965 Michaelson 312/341 R Primary Examiner-Casmir Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roy1ance, Abrams, Berdo & Kaul 7] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a desk having a pedestal unit slidably mounted therebeneath so that it may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the desk from one end to the other and a secretarial return situated perpendicular to one end of the desk. The secretarial return has a pedestal unit slidably mounted therebeneath so that it can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the secretarial return from one end to the other. The pedestals on both the desk and the secretarial return are moved to the ends thereof which are remote from the end at which the secretarial return is perpendicular to one end of the desk.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheetlof4 3,920,298

US. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheet20f4 3,920,298

Sheet 3 of 4 US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 N v\ \\\\\\\W W 3: v m y n i m i r y W US. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheet4of4 3,920,298

CONVERTIBLE DESK AND SECRETARIAL RETURN This invention relates to a combination desk and secretarial return and, more particularly, to such a combination wherein both the desk and secretarial return have pedestals mounted therebeneath which are slidable from one side to the other so that the secretarial return may be positioned on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the desk.

Bilevel desk combinations are well known in the art. In such a combination, there is provided a desk having a work surface and a secretarial return situated perpendicular to either the left-hand or the right-hand side of the desk. The secretarial return is generally used for supporting a typewriter and may also be used to support dictating equipment. When both the desk and the secretarial return have a pedestal, e.g., a set of drawers, mounted therebeneath at the end opposite that at which the secretarial return extends perpendicular to the desk, it is necessary to provide four entirely separate units for both a left-hand desk and a right-hand desk and secretarial return combination. That is, it is necessary to provide a desk having a pedestal on the right side and adapted to have a secretarial return attached to the left side thereof; a desk having a pedestal on the left side and adapted to have a secretarial return attached to the right side thereof; a secretarial return having a pedestal on the right side and being adapted to be attached at its left side to the right side of a desk; and a secretarial return having a pedestal on the left side and being adapted to be attached at its right side to the left side of a desk. With four such units, two different desks and secretarial return combinations are possible, i.e., a left-hand arrangement and a right-hand arrangement. However, it is obviously necessary for stores and the like which furnish such combinations to maintain inventories which are twice as large as would be required if a single desk and a single secretarial return could be adapted to provide both a left-hand and a right-hand arrangement of desk and secretarial return.

It has been proposed in the art to supply a desk and secretarial return with the pedestals which are to be mounted therebeneath to the customer in disassembled form. The customer may then assemble the desk and secretarial return and the pedestals to meet his needs, i.e., if he wishes a left-hand secretarial desk, he mounts the pedestals under the left-hand side of the desk and the right-hand side of the desk. However, this is disadvantageous since it requires that the customer assemble the units or, at least, that they be assembled pursuant to his specifications. If it is desired to rearrange the combination to provide, for example, a left-hand secretarial desk and return combination instead of a right-hand secretarial desk and return combination, it is necessary to again disassemble the pedestals and to reassemble them.

It is an object of this invention to provide a preassembled combination desk and secretarial return unit which may easily be converted from a left-hand to a right-hand secretarial desk and return combination.

This and other objects are attained by the practice of this invention which, briefly, comprises providing a desk having a pedestal unit slidably mounted therebeneath so that it may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the desk from one end to the other end and a secretarial return situated perpendicular to one end of said desk, having a pedestal unit slidably mounted therebeneath so that it can be moved along the longitudinal axis of said secretarial return from one end to the other end thereof.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the desk and secretarial return combination with the desk in the left-hand position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the desk and secretarial return combination with the desk in the right-hand position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view partly in section of the upper portion of the desk;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in section taken substantially along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view in section taken substantially along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the secretarial return;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view in section taken substantially along lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a section of the back of the pedestal and its mounting means unattached to the secretarial return;

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate alternative means by which the pedestals may be mounted beneath the desk and secretarial return.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a desk 10 and a secretarial return 12. The desk 10 comprises a planar top member 14, end portions 16 and 17 supporting the top member, pedestal 18 and front lip 20. Each end portion 16 and 17 extends upwards slightly above the level of the top 14 and extends past the front of the desk slightly beyond the front lip 20. Each end portion 16 and 17 also contains an inverted L-shaped recess 22 at the front of the desk. The shorter leg of the L-shaped recess 22 is defined by the horizontal top portion 24 of each end portion 16 and 17 which extends beyond the vertical edge 26. The vertical edge 26 defines the long leg of the L-shaped recess.

The secretarial return 12 is similarly comprised of a planar top portion 30, end portions 32 and 33 supporting the top portion and pedestal 34. The end portions 32 and 33 extend slightly above the level of the top 30 and extend past the front of the return 12 slightly beyond the front end edge 36 of top 30. The secretarial return 12 is positioned within the L-shaped recess 32 so that it is underneath the top portion of the recess 24 and so that one of the end portions 32 or 33 is adjacent the edge 26 of one of the sides 16 or 17.

The secretarial return also includes a rear member 38 which extends downward from the underneath side of the top 30. The bottom of the rear member 38 is spaced above the bottoms of ends 32. Similarly, the desk 10 contains a rear member 40 which extends downward from the underneath side of top member 14 and the bottom of which is spaced above the bottoms of ends 16 and 17. A shelf 42 which is perpendicular to the lower edge of rear member 40 extends the length of the desk between the ends 16. As best seen in FIG. 4, the rear member 40 is spaced forward from the back edge of top member 14 and the shelf 42 extends only about 3 half-way of the distance between rear member 40 and edges 26 of ends 16 and 17. Both the rear members 38 and 40 serve as modesty panels.

Each of the pedestals l8 and 34 are self-contained units which provide storage space in the form of one or more drawers or a cabinet having a door on the front thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, the inside face of the front lip 20, which extends below and is perpendicular to top member 14, contains a longitudinal groove or channel 50 which extends the length of the desk between the two end portions 16 and 17. Directly opposite the groove or channel 50, there is a corresponding groove 52 which extends the length of the desk between end portions 16 and 17. The groove 52 is in guide 54 which is secured in the corner between the top of rear portion 40 and the underneath side of top 14.

The pedestal 18 includes top 56, back 58 and bottom 60 and contains two drawers 62 and 64. Two slides 66 and 68 are secured to the top 56 by means of screws. Each slide 66 and 68 extends from the front lip 20 to the rear guide 54 and contains a tongue 70 on both ends which fit into grooves 50 and 52. The pedestal 18 is thereby slidably mounted beneath the top member 14 of the desk so that it can be pushed to either the right side or the left side of the desk 10. Thus, when the secretarial return is to be placed perpendicular to the left-hand side of the desk, the pedestal 18 is moved to the right-hand side of the desk; and when the secretarial return is to be placed perpendicular to the right end of the desk, the secretarial return is moved to the left end of the desk.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 8, the pedestal 34 contained in the secretarial return 12 comprises a top 72, a back 74, a bottom 76, a door 78 and sides 80. The door 78 is secured to the pedestal 34 by means not shown so that it swings upward and inside of the pedestal 34.

An L-shaped channel is provided at the upper rear of the pedestal 34 which extends across the back from one side to the other side. The L-shaped channel is provided by securing an angle iron or channel member 82 in a U-shaped groove in the back and L-shape sides of the pedestal 34. One side of the angle iron is secured by means of screws to the top 72 and the other side of the angle iron, which is perpendicular to the first side, extends downward from the top 72 into the U-shaped groove to form the L-shaped channel.

The top portion 34 is slidably mounted beneath the pedestal 12 by mating the L-shaped channel in the upper back of the pedestal with half of a U-shaped track 84 which is in turn attached to upper back member 38 by means of screws. The U-shaped track 84 extends completely along the back of the secretarial return 12 between the ends 32 and 33. Strips or pieces of waxed felt 86 and 88 are fastened to the front of the top 72 and the bottom of the back 74 to keep the top 72 and the back 74 spaced away from the top 30 and the rear member 38 of the secretarial return and thereby avoid frictional contact between these members. Movement of the pedestal 34 along the track 84 is facilitated by the waxed felts 86 and 88.

When the secretarial return is to be placed perpendicular to the right side of the desk, the pedestal 34 is moved to the right side of the secretarial return; and when the secretarial return is to be placed perpendicular to the left side of the desk, the pedestal 34 is moved to the left side of the secretarial return.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate alternative means by which pedestals may be slidably mounted beneath the desk and secretarial return. In FIG. 9, there is shown attached to the top of the pedestal by means of screws two brackets 102. From each bracket 102, a stem portion 104 extends upwardly into one of two channels 107 contained in the underneath side of a top 106 of either a desk or a secretarial return. Each channel 107 includes a track made of suitable materials, such as plastic, metal, etc., which comprisesa top portion 108, downwardly extending side portions 109, and inwardly extending leg portions 110 which are perpendicular to the side portions 109 and parallel to the top of the channel 108. The stem portion 104 extends upwardly between the legs 110. An axle 112 extends perpendicular to each side of the stem portion 104. Mounted on each side of the axle 112 is a roller or caster 114 so that one roller 114 is in contact with each,

leg 110 of the channel. This permits the pedestal to be I moved in the longitudinal direction of the channels.

Referring to FIG. 10, there are again shown channels 107 which run the length of the desk or secretarial return top 106 between the two ends. A portion of each 3 1 channel 107 is bounded on the bottom thereof by a plate 116 attached to the top 106 by means of screws.

Attached to the top 100 of the pedestal are mounting 1 means comprising a base. 118 which is secured to the top 100 by means of the screws, a leg 120 extending at about a 45 angle from the base 118 and a plate engaging arm 122 which extends at about a 45 angle from the leg 120 into the opening between the plate 116 and I pedestal unit is movable along the longitudinal axis I a of said desk top member from one end to the other end thereof;

a substantially planar secretarial return top portion situated perpendicularly to said desk top member,

at one end of said desk top member;

second support means for supporting said secretarial return top portion;

a second pedestal unit; and

second means for slidably mounting said second pedestal unit to said secretarial return top portion in a position below the top surface of said top portion so that said second pedestal unit is movable along the longitudinal axis of said secretarial return top portion from one end to the other end thereof,

said first and second pedestal units being situated at the ends of said desk top member and said secretarial return top portion which are remote from the ends thereof at which said secretarial return top portion and said desk top member are perpendicufirst guide follower coupled to said first pedestal unit and receivable in and movable along said first guide assembly, said second means including a second guide assembly extending along said secretarial return top portion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said secretarial return top portion, and a second guide follower coupled to said second pedestal unit and receivable in and movable along said second guide assembly. 2. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second guide assemblies includes two elongated channels. 3. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second guide followers includes two tongues, one of each receivable in and slidably movable along one of said elongated channels. 4. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second guide followers includes at least one roller receivable in and rollable along one of said elongated channels. 5. A combination-desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 1 wherein 6 said second guide assembly includes a U-shaped track, said second guide follower includes an, L-shaped channel member slidably received in said U-shaped track, and said combination further includes means, interposed between said second pedestal unit and the surface of said secretarial return top portion, for avoiding a frictional contact therebetween. 6. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 1 wherein I said first support means includes two substantially vertical end portions of substantially rectangular shape rigidly coupled to opposite ends of said desk planar top member. 7. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 6 wherein said second support means includes two substantially vertical end portions of substantially rectangular shape rigidly coupled to opposite ends of said secretarial return planar top portion. 8. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 7 wherein said first support means end portions each have an inverted L-shaped recess formed therein for receiving the end of said secretarial return top portion and one of said secretarial return end portions. 

1. A combination desk and secretarial return which may be easily converted between a left-hand and a right-hand desk and secretarial combination, comprising: a substantially planar desk top member; first support means for supporting said desk top member; a first pedestal unit; first means for slidably mounting said first pedastal unit to said desk top member in a position below the top surface of said top member so that said first pedestal unit is movable along the longitudinal axis of said desk top member from one end to the other end thereof; a substantially planar secretarial return top portion situated perpendicularly to said desk top member at one end of said desk top member; second support means for supporting said secretarial return top portion; a second pedestal unit; and second means for slidably mounting said second pedestal unit to said secretarial return top portion in a position below the top surface of said top portion so that said second pedestal unit is movable along the longitudinal axis of said secretarial return top portion from one end to the other end thereof, said first and second pedestal units being situated at the ends of said desk top member and said secretarial return top portion which are remote from the ends thereof at which said secretarial return top portion and said desk top member are perpendicularly situated, said first means including a first guide assembly extending along said desk top member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said desk, and a first guide follower coupled to said first pedestal unit and receivable in and movable along said first guide assembly, said second means including a second guide assembly extending along said secretarial return top portion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said secretarial return top portion, and a second guide follower coupled to said second pedestal unit and receivable in and movable along said second guide assembly.
 2. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second guide assemblies includes two elongated channels.
 3. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second guide followers includes two tongues, one of each receivable in and slidably movable along one of said elongated channels.
 4. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second guide followers includes at least one roller receivable in and rollable along one of said elongated channels.
 5. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 1 wherein said second guide assembly includes a U-sHaped track, said second guide follower includes an L-shaped channel member slidably received in said U-shaped track, and said combination further includes means, interposed between said second pedestal unit and the surface of said secretarial return top portion, for avoiding a frictional contact therebetween.
 6. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 1 wherein said first support means includes two substantially vertical end portions of substantially rectangular shape rigidly coupled to opposite ends of said desk planar top member.
 7. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 6 wherein said second support means includes two substantially vertical end portions of substantially rectangular shape rigidly coupled to opposite ends of said secretarial return planar top portion.
 8. A combination desk and secretarial return as defined in claim 7 wherein said first support means end portions each have an inverted L-shaped recess formed therein for receiving the end of said secretarial return top portion and one of said secretarial return end portions. 